Oil Portrait Painting by a Professional Portrait Artist

I have always  seen the world as an artist. When it came time to getting a job I spent the first 15 years working as a graphic designer. Then, it was three decades ago, I made the switch to painting for a living and have never looked back. I have created over 500 paintings, by far the most of them portraits.

Portraiture quickly became my artistic emphasis and continual fascination, because I really like people. If I can get to know them a bit in real life, that adds to what I paint. If I only have photos to look at, I get to know them through my oil portrait paintings. When I was a child I wondered how an artist would portray my physical features. Now I like to show my subjects the delight I find in portraying them. I want them to be proud to be remembered truly and skillfully. I want viewers to feel happy and inspired when they spend a few moments viewing my subjects on canvas.

What My Clients Say – Oil Portrait Paintings

“Your paintings are so realistic. It’s as if our twins might twirl and leap right off the canvas and into our arms, and I know I will cherish this even more when our children are grown up. These paintings will never be hidden in a closet. They will be passed down for all of our future generations to cherish.”

“The owner of our company came back into town about a month ago and we presented her with the portrait at an all-staff meeting. She cried, a lot of the staff cried. It is now hanging in our entry when you first walk into our business. It’s just so beautiful!”

“Oh, my god, they are beautiful! They are perfect! You captured the sweetness of both of them. It’s breathtaking. Look at how sweet they are. It’s making me cry. It’s phenomenal. Look at their little faces. My younger one’s little fingers, holding his little finger. You could not have captured those two little boys any better. It’s interesting, you can see how their smiles are the same and so are the shapes of their eyes. I’m at a loss of words. I wasn’t expecting it to be so emotional. [Still tearing, now with kleenex wiping her eyes.]

“The portrait seemed amazing when we first got it, but now, 2 years later, it is even more enjoyable because she has changed so much and it’s so neat to see her at that time in her life. You completely captured her. Everyone who views it thinks it is spectacular. One person stood it front of it awed and said, ‘An Artist Painted That?!’ Friends have also remarked on the colorful abstract background because it’s not like what you have done before. The colors work so well in my house, and all our other paintings in the house are abstract in different degrees. It’s perfect.”

“My husband surprised me with it today and I am flabberghasted. I am so excited. It’s fantastic. It’s just absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much. I can’t even believe it. I am stunned!”

From Photo to Oil Painted Portraits

In creating my oil portrait paintings, I actually prefer to work from photos. The best is
if my photographer husband and I can take the photos ourselves. That way I get to know the person a bit and my husband can create the best lighting. All of that gives me more understanding of the person that I am painting.
However, since we are in a digital age, receiving good photographs by email is still a great way to go. It helps me if I can see several photos of my subject, even though I might be painting from only one or two of them. Each picture gives me that much more information that I can draw from while painting the oil portrait.

My Process – From Photo to Oil Painting

After securing the best photo references for the figure, the background is considered for the oil portrait painting. What should it be? For a head and shoulders portrait that could just mean picking a color for abstract brush strokes. It seems to be more customary for the full-length pose to have hints of an indoor or outdoor background scene. Sometimes the client has a particular request; other times they want me to decide. If the background is to be realistic, I look for many photo references that might help me.

Next, I make thumbnail drawings on paper of the figure and background together. Then I sketch it out roughly on the canvas. I establish the shapes and darker areas with washes of brown paint. I see how it all fits together on the canvas. At this stage it is easy to move things around if needed. Everything is hand drawn and hand painted. The care and attention in the beginning always pay off in the end.

Sometimes I move on to more detailed thicker brown paint and add white to the lighter areas. Other times I go straight into color, but nothing bright yet. I do tend to spend more time on the figure, but I try to keep something going in the background too. That way, I work the whole canvas at once. Little by little, first washes, then thin paint, then thicker. I build it up. Again with lots of care and thousands of thoughtful decisions made all along the way until it is done. Every line, every brushstroke, every light, every dark has fulfilled its purpose. The spiritual qualities of the subject communicate to me that all is just right in that hand painted canvas world.

Here are two videos showing the my process in creating an oil portrait painting:

Emmy Award-winning 5-minute documentary (plus 40-second intro) from FOX News.

A simple slideshow of many steps of the painting process.

Oil Portrait Painting Pricing and Sizing

The pricing for an oil portrait painting is based on a few different factors. First, there is the pose, whether it is head and shoulders, ¾ view showing the hands or full-length. Also is it of a child or an adult? Then there is the overall size of the painting. Lastly, there can be some consideration on how much detail is involved. Prices range from $3,000-25,000 per person.

I offer two basic very approximate sets of sizes for my oil portraits. The larger sizes range from 18”x24” (child head and shoulder) to about 30”x42” (adult full length). The smaller portraits range from 14”x18” (child head and shoulder) to about 24”x34” (adult full length).

Please be sure to contact me to go over what kind of oil portrait painting would most suit your vision. I can give you as much input as you need.

Types of Portraits

Please visit the below pages to see the types of oil portrait paintings that I paint. Whether it be a portrait of your child, your whole family or a beloved pet, I have experience in the gamut of subjects.

Here are some types of oil portraits I have done:

• Photo to Painting
• Oil Portraits
         Children Oil Portraits
         Teen Oil Portraits
         Family Oil Portraits
         Oil Portraits of Men and Women
         Pet Oil Portraits
• Charcoal Portraits
• Posthumous Portraits

Order your oil portrait now

Call me and let’s talk about the oil portrait painting that you would like to have. Let’s get it rolling so you can enjoy it longer. And for so many, many years to come.